Loom



A ril 10, 1934. G. B. AMBLER LOOM Filed Sept. 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iw/venioz' George-B. eflmzziez',

April 10, 1934. B, LE I 1,954,609

LOOM

Filed Sept. 6, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 10, 1934. G. B. AMBLER LOOM Filed Sept. 6, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 LOOM April 10, 1934. G. B. AMBLER Filed Sept. 6, 1930 April 10, 1934. G. B. AMBLER LOOM Filed Sept. 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT F. A. .Whitney ,Carria Mass, a corporation ge lCompany, Leominster, of Massachusetts Application September 6, 19 30, .Serial No. 480,155 24 Claims. (01. 139-47.)

This invention relates to looms. A cardinal Qbject of the invention is to provide amechanism for weaving a fabric in situ on a frame. This fabric may be of the type known as stake and strand fabric, and a particular application of the invention is a mechanism for weaving on a frame a panel of fiber reed. By way of example I have illustrated a mechanism for weaving a fabric on a .frame .to form a seat back such asis used in a baby carriage.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown byway of example will be well understood by reference to the following description .taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the loom with parts, particularly those relating to the beat-,up mechanism, omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on .the line 2-2 ,of Fig. 1;

Fig.8 .isa schematic perspectiveyiew showing isolated partsof the mechanism; the parts are shown in the position they occupy as .apick is ending and the shed is about to change;

Fig. .4 is an enlarged section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is ancnlarged plan section onthe line 5-.5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5 somewhat enlarged;

.Fig. Us a View on a fore and aft plane through the loom showing in side elevation separated .from other .mechanisms and with parts broken away mechanism relating to the shedding;'

Fig. 8 is a similar; View of thebeat-up mechanism;

Fig.9 is a detailed plan of one of the beat-up fingers;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1 showing isolatedfrom surroundingmechanisms some parts relating to the beat- ,up; and

Fig. 11 is an elevation showing a carriage back with the .fabric woven thereon and parts displaced.

Referringto Fig. 11, the machine here shown is'adapted to weave a fabric of fiber reed on a .frame comprising the bottom member 'a, the two flaring side members I), stakes in being set into suitable openings in the bottom member a to .form a warp, and a filling or weft 1 being interwoven therewith. The back is then completed .by the addition of a topframe memberd which engagesthe upper ends of the stakes or warps w. .The filling embraces the side membersflb which .pends from .top girt' l7.

form in eifect selvage warps. Such backs have commonly been construeted by hand weaving. 'Ihe stakes being fixed in the partially completed frame ,withthe top d omitted, the hand weaver has laid in the filling, wrapping it back 5.0 and forth around the sidemember's b and manually forming sheds among the'stak'es forit's"reception as hejdid so. I believe, however, that no machine has ever been provided capable'of producingsuch an article.

For convenience of description the mechanisms Of the loom may more or lessarbitrarilyibie divided into, first, mechanism forsupporting the frame and the warp; second. shedding' niechanism; third, filling inlaying mechanismfahd ,7 0 fourth, beat-up mechanism. Referring to Fig; 11, the mechanisms of the loom may be organizedon asuitable ,f'raniewhrk including the two side ,frames 15 spacedby suitable erossgirts including the top girt '1'7and the 325 lower cross-bar 19. A verticafshaft suitably driven maybe consider'ed'the mamehaaar the 100m Tosupportin the loom the .frame which is to be filled with fabric, the bottom bar a thei'eof may be engaged (see Fig. 2) in the forks lief a bar havingdepending stems 23 slidably engaged in the cross-bar 19 of theYloom and supported by springs25 embracing these stems. The barn may be engaged in the forks and pushed down compressing the springs and theside members b of the frame are then pushed forward an engaged (see Fig. 3) with a buttoning motion with dependinglugs 2'7 which lie substantially'inthe plane of weave. As seen'inFig. 6, membersz'l '90 herein depend from plate 81 which stud 73 'sus- ,The side members 2) herein shown are provided at their upper ends with tenons g which in the completed ,back (Fig. 11) receive the ornamental balls or acorns h, and I have herein (Fig. .3) shown the lugs 2'7 as provided with downwardly opening boresinto which these tenons fit.

The stakes 7.0 which constitute the warp are set into the bottom bar a. In the present example of the invention the back is of plainweave and alternate stakes remain substantially in the plane of the side bars b and may be steadied near theirupper ends (see Fig. ii) ,by being received loosely between the forked ends of incurving arms 29 depending at opposite sides of the .crosseplate .31 with their lower ends extending inwardly to- Wa1 d.th8 plane of weave.

The arran m n T is such that a filling strand may be pressed down between a stake and the end of an arm on one side or the other, the stake yielding into the recess of the opposite arm. The ends of the arms preferably have downwardly and inwardly di rected faces over which the filling may slip to enter past these stakes and into the shed. The other stakes extend upwardly for a considerable distance above the tops of the side members I) and are adapted to be shifted to opposite sides to form sheds by means of the heddle bar 33. As seen in Fig. 4, the ends of the stakes may be loosely received in bores in studs depending from the heddle bar.

I will now describe more particularly the form of shedding mechanism utilized in the example of the invention shown. Herein the heddle 33 is projected from one side to the other of the stationary stakes to form an openback shed alternately at one side or another of the plane of the same in which the filling or strand is deposited. The shedding as herein effected is of the shed and counter-shed type, the stationary stakes remaining in the center line of the shed and the movable stakes being moved alternately to the top line or bottom line forming sheds successively at opposite sides of the center. It will be noted that in the construction herein shown as distinguished from an ordinary loom there are two lines of pick. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 7, the heddle bar 33 is connected at each end (by means hereinafter to be described) to a bar 37, the lower edge of which is formed as a rack 39 and which may move fore and aft of the loom between the guideways 41 located at opposite sides of the plane of weave. Pinions 43 project into these guideways to engage the rack, these pinions being spaced apart a distance less than the length of the rack. The pinions (see Fig. 1) are carried by short shafts journalled in the frames 45 overhung from the side frames 15 of the loom and which also support in overhanging relation the guideways 41, and these shafts carry on their outer ends pinions 47 which are driven at either side of the loom by an oscillating segment 49 operated by a connecting rod 51 from a rocker arm 53 actuated by the grooved cam 55 on the cam shaft 57. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the rack is in one extreme position where it has a dwell for more than a quarter of the cycle and the heddle 33 is held at one side forming an open-back shed for the reception of the filling and there are open spaces on all sides of the depending member 2'? for the passage of the picking mechanism. When'the pick is completed and the picking mechanism is out of the shed and about to return in the opposite direction for another pick, the cam oscillates the segment and the rack is bodily projected toward the left in Fig. 3 to occupy the same position with respect to the left-hand pinion 43 as it does to the right-hand pinion in the figure. The left-hand pinion engages the rack before it leaves the right-hand pinion and continues its motion.

As the throw of the rack bars 37 is excessive in amount as compared with the desired movement of the heddle 33, the latter is engaged therewith with provision for lost motion, and herein the ends of the he'ddle are provided with slides 61 movable in channels in the inner faces of bars 37, and from these slides 61 project studs 63 (Fig. 7) moving in slots 65 from the back of the guideways. On account of the lost motion thus pro- I vided the movement of the heddle bar is reduced.

1'. will next describe the particular form of filling inlaying mechanism herein shown. Preferably the inlaying of filling is effected by a continuous rotary motion as distinct from a reciprocating motion, and herein I have shown a supply of filling in the form of a large bobbin 6''! which is revolved to pay out the filling strand through the sheds, an end preferably being initially engaged with the frame, as shown at the lower left-hand portion of Fig. 3. Spool 67 is herein shown as carried on an arm 69 of a sleeve '71 turning about a stud '73 depending from the central part of the upper cross-frame 17 and carrying a gear 74 driven by a suitable train from the main shaft 20. Gear '74: turns in one to one ratio with the cam shaft 51. The supply of filling leads through from the spool to a suitable carrier head '75 which with its supporting means travels along the back of the shed and may project therein downwardly past the upper ends of the movable warps engaged with the heddle bar. It is herein shown (see Fig. 3) as having a forwardly and upwardly tapered body in the direction of its movement to facilitate its passage through the various warps. This carrier head '75 preferably moves differentially to the spool 6'7, which, of course, moves in a circle, and desirably has an oblate orbital path including preferably two straight lines in which it traverses the shed at opposite sides of the plane of stationary warps. Herein (see Figs. 5 and 6) the head 75 is carried on the end of a tube '7? depending from a carriage '79 guided to move in a suitably shaped track defined by an opening in the plate 31 and an inner plate 81 suspended from stud '73. The carriage 79 forms a lower bearing for a short shaft 83 having a pinion 85 meshing with a mangle rack 87 supported above plate 81, and shaft 83 is connected by a double universal joint connection 89 (Fig. 1) to a shaft 91 journalled in the web of gear 74 and carrying on its upper end a pinion 93 which meshes with a stationary gear wheel 95. As gear '73 revolves, pinion 93 rolls around gear 95, driving pinion 85 and the carriage '79 is thus moved about the mangle rack 37. The filling 1 leading from the supply spool passes through a suitable opening 9'? (Fig. 5) in the carriage, through tube 7'7 and out through the head 75. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the filling inlaying device has moved through the shed shown, the pinion moving in mesh with that portion of the mangle rack shown at the upper side of Fig. 6 and is about to move from right to left around the depending member 27. As it passes the left-hand pinion 43 beyond the path of bar 3'7 and pinion 85 starts to enter the opposite straight portion of the rack, the shed is changed. In the appended claims in referring to a filling-inlaying mechanism as moving through a shed I refer to one which moves between the planes (herein vertical) of the two bounding lines of the shed to deposit filling therein whether or no it actually extends to overlap the warps.

I will next describe the particular mechanism shown for drawing the filling paid out by head '75 into the shed and beating it up to the fell of the fabric, referring more particularly to Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The beat-up mechanism here shown comprises fork-like fingers 99 adapted to embrace the movable stakes. These are pivoted on the ends of arms 101 which are adapted to be raised through connecting rods 103 by cams 105 on cam shaft 57 and permitted to drop to beat up the filling. In their lowermost position when they act on the filling the fingers 99 swing clock- .wise,:viewing Fig. 8, andform a rule joint at 107 with the ends of the fingers. When lifted,

. however, they may swing freely against the action of the counterweighting tails 109 and thus if they come in contact with the filling on :their up strokes they may yield to .permit it 'topass. I have herein shown four beat-up fingers and two operate on each pick of the loom and the order of operation, viewing Fig. 3, is I, .III, IV

.andII, the cams in Fig. 8 being similarly marked. In Fig. 3 the head is about to move about to land then II, completing the cycle. Figs.

3 and 8 do-not attempt to show the samepoint of the cycle.

As the stakes or warps of the fabric are not advanced lengthwise during the weaving, the fell of the cloth gradually rises higher and higher. As the beat-up fingers fall substantially freely under gravity, they accommodate themselves to this, but to insure evenness of their action they are arranged to strike against a rubber buffer 111 supported adjacent the fell of the cloth on the cross-bar 113 of a U-shaped member 115 which is gradually lifted as the weaving proceeds. As best seen in Fig. 10,-the arms of member'115 maybe pivoted at 116 adiacent the rear end of the loom and the member is counterbalancedby a spring 117. Tothe forward end is connected a rack 119 driven by a pinion 121, the shaft 123 of which (see Fig. .1) is clutched by means of the ratchet wheel 125 and pawl 127 to a worm gear 129 driven by worm 131 which takes'motion from the cam shaft 5'7. Asthe weaving proceeds, the bumper 111 isthus gradually raised, and after a piece of work is completed, .the pawl 27, may belifted from the ratchet wheel, permitting the rack .to dropto initial position.

After a sufficientlength of fabric is woven, the

.frame is removed fromthe loom,. projecting warp ends trimmed offand the top piece d (Fig. 11) of the frame putin place.

I .am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithoutdepartingfrom the spirit or essential ,attributesthereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as-illustrat-ive and-not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing descriptionrto indicate the scope of the invention.

.I claim:

1. Weaving mechanism comprising, in combination with an orbitally movable carrier adapted to wrap a filling strand about certain of a set of stakes constituting a warp, a heddle controlling other stakes of the set, and a mechanism for alternately projecting said heddle to opposite sides of the orbit.

2. Weaving mechanism comprising, in combination with an orbitally movable carrier adapted to wrap a filling strand about certain of a set of stakes constituting a warp, a heddle controlling other stakes of the set, supports for the ends of the heddle, and means for bodily moving said supports and heddle across the path of said carrier whereby the latter may pass the same.

3. Weaving mechanism comprising, in combination with an. orbitally movable carrier adapted to wrap .a filling strand about certainof a .set. of stakes constituting a warp, aiheddlecontrolling other. stakes of a the set, :andreciprocating driving .mechanism having continuous positive .connec-? tion withsaid: heddle for alternately bodily moving it across the path of said. carrierwherebyrthe latterwmay move continuously.

4. Weaving mechanismcomprising means .=for

supporting a warp of stakes with projecting ends," -a winding mechanism adjacent said :ends :for wrapping-a filling strand about the-stakes,- and means to 'forman unobstructed, open-back shed to-receive the-filling strand comprising means to defiect the ends ofcertain stakes past-the path of said strand and cooperating means atthe -further side of the path for retaining them in such "deflected position.

5. Aloom for weaving panelscomprisingmeans forpositioning side members byengagement with both ends thereof, a device adjacenta-n endof whichsaid device may travel, said shedding mechanism providing an unobstructed path for the orbital movement of-said device.

6. The sheddingmechanism comprising a car- -rier, means for moving said carrier back and forthtoopposite sides of a plane comprising-driving means at either'side of the planeadaptedeach to, deliver said carrier to the other, and a heddle therealong.

7 A shedding mechanism as described in claim ;6 wherein one or another of said driving means continuously engages the carrier positively "to reciprocate the same.

8. The shedding mechanism comprising a carrier'havinga rack, means-for moving said carrier bodily back and forth to opposite sides ofaplane comprising oscillating driving pinions on oppositesides of the plane, and a heddle support mountedon said carrier for lost motion therealong.

9. In a loom,'in combination withmeans'for forming open-backed sheds, means for wrapping a filling strand through said sheds and about certain of the warps comprising a power shaft, a bobbin revolved thereabout, a mangle rack having a pinion driven by a flexible connection from said shaft, and a carriage moved bythe pinion having a guide through which the filling-is led from said bobbin and presentedto the back of the shed.

10.'Ina loom, ,in combination with means to 'form an-open-back shed'of the shed andcountersupportmounted on said carrier for lost motiongl lfl draw out the filling therefrom and beat it up liio along the warp.

11. In a loom, in combination with means to form an open-back shed of the shed and countershed type, a filling carrier having a guide presented to the back of the shed and orbitally moving about the center line thereof, said shedding means being arranged to permit said guide to pass, and beat-up fingers acting progressively across the width of the shed to draw out the filling from the carrier and advance it along the warps:

12. In a loom, in combination with means to form an open-back shed of the shed and countershed type, a filling carrier having a guide presented to the back of the shed and orbitally moving about the center line thereof, said shedding means being arranged to permit said guide to pass, beat-up means, a stop for the beat-up means, and means to advance said stop along the warps as the weaving proceeds.

13. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a frame comprising side members and a warp of stakes between said side members, means for displacing certain of the stakes to provide sheds, means to pay out filling strand and devices acting successively along the length of the filling to draw it into the sheds and to the fell of the fabric.

14. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting-at one end a warp of stakes, suspended devices for positioning the other ends of said stakes, a winding mechanism movable in a closed path between and around said devices to pay out filling strand to be interwoven with the stakes, and successively acting beat-up devices to draw the filling down into the fabric.

15. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting from below a frame comprising side members and carrying a warp of stakes between said side members, suspended devices engaging the upper ends of the side members and the stakes, a winding mechanism movable in a closed path between and around said devices to pay out filling strand to be interwoven with said stakes and to loop, about said side members in the manner of selvage warps, and successively acting beat-up devices to draw the filling down into the fabric.

16. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting from below a frame comprising side members and carrying a warp of stakes between said side members, suspended devices engaging the upper ends of the side members and the stakes, a bobbin carrying filling strand revolving clear of said devices, a differentially moving filling-inlaying device supplied therefrom movable in a closed path between and around said devices to pay out filling strand to be interwoven with said stakes and to loop about said side members in the manner of selvage warps, and successively acting beat-up devices to draw the filling down into the fabric.

17. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a warp of stakes with projecting ends, inwardly extending arms having forked ends presented to certain of the stakes adjacent their projecting ends and at either side thereof loosely to position the same, a winding mechanism above said arms to pay out filling strand around the plane of said stakes, a heddle above said arms 18. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a warp of stakes with projecting ends, forks presented to certain of the stakes adjacent said projecting ends at either side thereof loosely to position the same, shedding means acting on other stakes, means above said forks to pay out filling strand, and means to draw out said strand between said first mentioned stakes and the forks at one side thereof and into the cloth, the stakes yielding into the opposite forks.

l9. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a warp of projecting stakes, means for paying out a filling strand into interwoven relation therewith, and oscillating beat-up means including pivoted fingers to engage the filling, means being provided to limit pivoting of said fingers in one direction whereby they may act positively to beat up the filling but yield to pass the same on return.

20. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a warp of projecting stakes, means for paying out a filling strand into interwoven relation therewith, beat-up devices, a stop for said devices, and means to advance said stop as the fabric builds up along the warps.

21. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a warp of projecting stakes, means for paying out a filling strand into interwoven relation therewith, oscillating beat-up devices, and means progressively to alter the stroke thereof as the fabric builds up along the warps.

22. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a Warp of projecting stakes, means for paying out a filling strand into interwoven relation therewith, and beat-up means having a limit of stroke which progressively moves as the fabric builds up along the warps.

23. Weaving mechanism comprising means for supporting a frame having side members and a warp of stakes between them, means to wind a filling strand about said side members and into A interwoven relation with the stakes, beat-up devices for progressively drawing the filling into the fabric comprising a device initially acting on each pick adjacent a side member to draw the filling just laid about it down about the same.

24. In a loom, in combination with means for forming open-backed sheds, means for wrapping a filling strand through said sheds and about certain of the warps comprising a carriage having a filling guide through which the filling is led from a supply thereof, and a mangle rack for moving said carriage in an oblate orbit.

GEORGE B. AMBLER. 

